Islamic Dietary Laws

Some food products have the labels which say 'U' or 'K'. What are those
letters?

The use of the letter "U"
inside of the letter "O" is authorized by the Union of Orthodox Jewish
Congregations of America, more familiarly known as the Orthodox Union, for
use on foods that comply with Jewish dietary laws.

The letter "K"
indicates that the food is Kosher-that is, it also complies with Jewish dietary
laws and has been processed under the direction of a rabbi. The Hebrew
word "Kosher" means permitted according to Torah Law.

When you see these letters,
they mean that the product does not contain anything from an animal or pork
origin. But it still may contain alcohol. So please check labels.

It is recommended, however,
to read labels before buying food products. Read the ingredients on the food
labels and understand the meaning of every ingredient. Always ask the food
industries about ingredients or preservatives that are doubtful. Effort is
being made by the Muslims on the East Coast to have a Halal (Muslim) letter
for food products that meet Islamic requirements.

What are mono-and diglycerides? It is my understanding that they come from
vegetable sources and should be HALAL. Is it not the case?

Monoglycerides and diglycerides
or mono- and diglycerides, as they commonly appear on food labels, are a
mixture of fatty substances containing glycerol and one (mono) or two (di)
fatty acids. They are manufactured from the breakdown of fats and oils. They
are available as monoglycerides only, diglycerides only, or a mixture of
both.

These are widely used in
the preparation of baked goods and varied food products. The consumer may
also find them listed as Polysorbates, monostearates, Tween and Span. Glycerides
are processed from fatty acids, both animal and vegetable.

The special qualities of
these products which act as surfants, making water and oil soluble, make
them invaluable components in many food items, such as margarine, shortenings,
cream filings, toppings, coffee creamers (be careful with the Carnation powder
brand which most people overlook) prepared cake mixes, doughnuts, and puddings.
It should also be pointed out that ice cream, frozen desserts, instant mashed
potatoes, peanut butter, snack pack foods, and many breakfast cereals contain
di-glycerides and, therefore requires careful attention.

In addition, a product
whose ingredient list states 'emulsifier' or 'emulsifier added' is indicative
of the use of glycerides and requires certification. Many chocolates and
candies contain such glyceride emulsifiers.

Many breads are made with
shortenings, specially prepared dough conditioners, in which shortenings
and di-glycerides are basic ingredients. Be very careful.

Commercially available
mono- and diglycerides may be manufactured from vegetable oils, beef fat,
LARD, or marine oils. Therefore, Muslims should stick to labels saying vegetable
or marine, mono- and diglycerides.